“The employees of these companies have undergone a vigorous series of tests in the areas of business operations, environmental stewardship, consumer relations, and sales/technician training, as well as committing to strict accountability measures in the form of random audits,” said QualityPro Executive Director Andrew Architect. “By voluntarily ascribing to this higher level of professionalism, they have elevated the corporate status of their companies, instilling trust in current and future consumers and a sense of pride in company employees. “

Third Edition of the PCT Field Guide for the Management of Structure-Infesting Ants Now Available

Related: Stoy Hedges PodcastClick here to listen to podcast in which Stoy Hedges provides recent ant field observations and further discusses changes improvements to the PCT Field Guide for the Management of Structure-Infesting Ants, 3rd Edition.

Completely revised and updated, the 3rd edition Ant Field Guide is an essential educational resource for pest management professionals.

“To be without this field guide is akin to doing pest management without a flashlight,” said longtime industry consultant Dr. Austin Frishman, AMF Pest Management Services, Boca Raton, Fla.

It’s no accident that ants are the industry’s No. 1 pest, representing millions of dollars in annual revenue. Unique behavioral characteristics, rapidly changing dietary needs and dozens of structure-infesting species all make control difficult. The PCT Field Guide for the Management of Structure-Infesting Ants, 3rd Edition, was written to provide pest management professionals with a handy resource they can access from their service vehicles for practical, up-to-date information on these challenging pests. Topics covered include:

Basic Ant Biology

Inspection Tips

Successful Treatment Strategies

Instant Ant Identification Guide

Taxonomic Keys

Full-Color Photo ID Section

Emerging Ant Species

Hedges, manager of technical service, Terminix International, provides a thorough review of the biology and behavior of ants (updated with new data where appropriate), and has included new case studies from his extensive field experiences.

The 3rd edition Ant Field Guide also has been updated with six new ant species. “For example, we rolled into the Pavement Ant chapter information about a related pavement ant species we are seeing in Missouri and Illinois,” Hedges said.

Perhaps the most significant revision is the inclusion of high-quality, 4-color photos taken by Joe MacGown from the Mississippi Entomological Museum. MacGown used a digital microscope for the photos, which provide incredible detail of each ant species.

“The biggest challenge for our service professionals is the identification of the pests involved and this guide was written with the service professional in the field in mind, so that they can solve the problem as quickly as possible,” Hedges said.

Priced at only $9.95 per copy, this 325-page handy field guide is a resource every one of your technicians should have in their service vehicle (quantity discounts are available).

Preventing Bird-Plane Collisions (Bird Strikes) with Bird Proofing

Editor's note: Bird Doctor Nationwide, a professional bird proofing company out of Paramus, N.J., submitted the following article to PCT, which provides the company's perspective on bird-proofing services to address problems such as bird-strikes at airports.

According to audio tapes released by the FAA, when US Airways Flight 1549 crash-landed into the Hudson River last year, the aircraft suffered a “double bird strike.” A formation of birds had approached the aircraft while it passed through an altitude of about 3,200 feet. When the aircraft collided with the birds, the windscreen quickly turned dark brown and both engines ingested birds, causing an immediate loss of virtually all thrust. Passengers and crew later reported hearing "very loud bangs" in both engines, then noticed flaming exhaust followed by silence as the odor of unburned fuel filled the cabin. Fortunately, under the expert guidance of the flight crew, the damaged aircraft landed safely and everyone survived.

Reports of airplanes hitting birds rose dramatically in 2009. In fact, bird strikes last year could top 10,000 for the first time, an average of 27 strikes every day. In the first seven months of 2009, at least 57 bird strikes caused serious damage, three destroyed planes and a corporate helicopter was destroyed, killing eight and injuring six.

Unfortunately birds can cause more damage at airports than just bird strikes. Birds will nest or roost in maintenance buildings and hangars, on top of roofs, and on aircraft itself. Bird droppings are corrosive and can damage most building materials including steel, aluminum, concrete and more.

The problem is that many airports are positioned near open fields or wetlands and airports provide ample structures and elements that birds need to survive. While some airports have wildlife management programs to help reduce bird strikes, there are still large numbers across the nation and globe struggling to control bird populations.

The solution? Professional bird proofing.

There are businesses out there that specialize in bird control, such as Bird Doctor Nationwide, a professional bird proofing company out of Paramus, NJ. Bird Doctor has extensive experience in eradicating birds from airports and other high profile areas.

Ridding airports of birds usually involves a thorough assessment of the airport and surrounding areas and careful consideration of the right products or methods to use. The proper selection, installation and implementation of bird control products or techniques can mean the difference between success and failure. Most wildlife and pest control professionals agree that it takes an integrated approach when tackling large spaces.

It’s called “Integrated Bird Management”, and companies like Bird Doctor Nationwide that have installed bird control systems for major ballparks, industrial sites, and commercial buildings are familiar with the difficulty large open spaces create when trying to bird proof. The integrated approach to controlling birds at airports means that individual areas will need specific treatments or modifications. Open spaces and wetland areas will require different products than hangars or control towers. Hiring a professional bird proofing company, like Bird Doctor Nationwide, can ensure that the products are installed for maximum effectiveness.

There are a number of bird control products out there that can be used to help deter birds from airports. Bird control professionals are familiar with the various products available and have field experience to help decipher what works best where.

Many have used non-toxic chemical repellents dispensed by Misters and Foggers for open airfields. These bird-proofing systems discourage pest birds from nesting and roosting by broadcasting a super fine mist or fog of methyl anthranilate, a non toxic grape extract, into areas occupied by pest birds. The chemical irritates the trigeminal nerve and mucous membranes of birds when they fly through it; this will not harm birds, but will deter them from the area.

To keep pest birds from nesting and roosting in hangars or other airport structures, there's Bird Netting. Bird Netting is used as a physical barrier to humanely block birds out of unwanted areas. Installed correctly, bird netting is a humane and an extremely effective means of deterring birds.

For hangar roofs, traffic control towers, runway signs, and other areas bird spikes can be installed. The U.S. Humane Society and PICAS have approved spikes as a humane bird deterrent. Installed properly, they are basically maintenance free. Bird spikes create an uneven surface that birds will not want to land on.

Another particularly effective bird proofing device is Electric Track. These devices "convince" pest birds to stay away by delivering a harmless electric shock the second they set foot on the electrified track. Electric bird tracks are low profile and effective for small and large birds.

These are just a few of the bird deterrents commonly installed by companies like Bird Doctor Nationwide. Every situation is different, and most bird control products out there are specie specific. Hiring a professional installer with field experience can save you time and money and create a safe environment for air traffic around airports. Birds are a beautiful addition to any landscape, but once they become a safety hazard, its best to deal with them right away.

Bird Doctor Nationwide is a leading professional installer of bird control products. Customers include 41 Fortune 500 companies, The New York Yankees, the New York City Department of Transportation, United Nations, The Intrepid, The Brooklyn Bridge, and numerous airports. You can contact Bird Doctor Nationwide at 1-800-825-1151 or visit online at http://www.birddoctorinc.com

Michigan Association, Health Department Team to Create Bed Bug PSAs

Due to the increase in bed bugs, The Michigan Pest Management Association (MPMA) and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) have teamed up to inform the public about bed bugs. They have released two PSA’s to notify the public about these pests. MPMA became involved in this project because the association believes its duty is to educate the pubic on the facts about bed bugs.

Fog Force Now Registered in the United Arab Emirates

DAVIDSON, N.C. — Natural Forces announced that Rejex-it Fog Force is now registered in the United Arab Emirates.

Hani Shehadeh, regional director with the Ecovar Group -Dubai, said, " Fog Force is perfect for food processing plants, warehouses and manufacturing, commercial buildings and refineries. We are pleased with the wide-ranging options this provides our clients."

President of Natural Forces, Devlin Reynolds commented, "We are excited about the registration of Fog Force and other Rejex-it products in UAE. This continues to build on our strategy for avian management for the vector and agricultural
markets globally. We look forward to many more international registrations this year."